Tennis: “Bottomless of me”: Zverev perplexed about US Open exit

Alexander Zverev appeared helpless and completely frustrated after missing out on a place in the semifinals at the US Open. “That was simply abysmal of me today,” said the 27-year-old about his performance in the 6:7 (2:7), 6:3, 4:6, 6:7 (3:7) against the American Taylor Fritz. “I have no answers right now.”

This is how Zverev explains his defeat

With the quarterfinal exit in New York, the 2021 Olympic champion squandered another opportunity for his long-awaited first title at a Grand Slam tournament. “I had no feeling in my racket, zero point zero. It was unbelievable. I don’t know if I’ve ever had such a feeling on my backhand in my career,” said Zverev about his supposed signature shot. “I think that was the first time, and I hope the last time.”

This is how the game went

Zverev made more minor errors with his forehand than with his backhand. In the duel with the 12th ranked player in the world, the Hamburg player lacked aggression. Zverev was too passive in the decisive moments of the match. In the tiebreak of the first set, Fritz scored the last six points in a row: he scored three points with a direct winner and forced Zverev to make errors on two more points.

Even winning the second set did not give the German number one any new confidence. At the end of the fourth set, Fritz dictated the game again and reached his first Grand Slam semi-final.

This is what Boris Becker says about the defeat

“He seemed inhibited today, as if he was playing with the handbrake on. He was also pretty much at his limit physically,” said Boris Becker as an expert on Sportdeutschland.TV. “The gate for the final was open – and that may have slowed him down.”

Zverev’s chances at the US Open were so great

The tournament constellation had opened up a viable path for Zverev. Defending champion Novak Djokovic from Serbia and the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, a two-time Grand Slam winner this year, had already failed early on. Zverev would also have been the favorite in a semifinal. And he has already defeated world number one Jannik Sinner from Italy, a possible finalist, twice at the US Open.

So another Grand Slam season ends without a title for the unfinished player, who lost the final of the French Open to Alcaraz this year and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open. “But I didn’t win one. I don’t care about any of that,” he said bitterly. “I’m 27 years old, I’ll be 28 next year.”